After S4 Galaxy released in spring 2013, and a phalanx of derivative devices ( Zoom GS4 , GS4 Mini , S4 Active ...), place Galaxy S5. Marketed at the same time as the new standard-bearers of Sony (
Xperia Z2 ) and HTC (
One M8 ), the GS5 displays, too, the technical characteristics
of top-flight . As
smartphone powered field, and narrow, upper range, the GS5, water resistant and dust proof (IP67 certified), displays appropriate technology features. Logic. On the menu: HD Super AMOLED 5.1 inch S801 Snapdragon processor clocked at 2.5 GHz with 2 GB of RAM, internal memory of 16 GB expandable up to 128 GB via microSD, backlit 16MP camera sensor screen and removable battery of 2800 mAh. Powered by Android 4.4.2 KitKat, dressed by the house reworked TouchWiz interface, the phone has a software "connected health" approach coupled with a heart rate sensor. A fingerprint reader is also its appearance, especially to unlock the phone.
Compatible 4G, the GS5 is sold from € 679, excluding operator subsidies. Does it bring a real lot of new features compared to its predecessor? Where does he deal with its two main competitors at the moment? Replies to this thread testbed ...
Ergonomics and design
Despite the recurring criticisms reported here and there about its smartphones integrally cast in plastic, Samsungconfirmed and signed. And while the Xperia Z2 and One (M8) parade with their dresses respectively carved tempered glass and brushed aluminum, the GS5 pales with its hull and its periphery coarse metal plastic imitation. Placed near his two opponents, the GS5 barely stand. Worse, without knowing the reference mobile, we would bet without difficulty that it is not positioned on the same segment as the other two devices. However, the plastic has an advantage: it is lightweight. The weight of GS5 is therefore more restrained than its two main competitors at the time. Some prefer to opt for a lightweight when others see in a slightly larger weight a guarantee of quality.
A pearly white version slightly more sensitive to dirt than the black version (less "young & girly"!)
Classical and similar to GS4 front, the only "fantasy" of GS5 is on the back cover (interchangeable) having micro-asperities. In the state, difficult to assign a special design award at GS5, especially in light of efforts for some time by Sony and HTC.
The finish is happily correct and nice grip - camera less slippery than the GS4. It would still enjoyed screen borders narrower type -
LG G2 - and a little less generous dimensions. While the GS5 is only 0.1 inches longer than the GS4 at the screen, the
newcomer is heavier, wider, longer and slightly thicker. And then housed within the device screen could be a little bigger or the manufacturer could have a little more control measurements of its new flagship. It ends up with a GS5 the report screen size / template less interesting than its predecessor. Certified IP67, the GS5 resists water and dust. It can be put in the water temporarily (30 min) at a depth of less than 1 m. What, for example, take a picture underwater.
USB 3, great! Yes, but the correct cable is not supplied with the phone ...
Samsung has chosen to retain the physical navigation button under the screen instead of integrating all the controls within the same screen as touch keys. And deported under the screen, controls (back, menu, access to multitasking) does not nibble place the bottom of the screen. It is at this physical key is that the proposed fingerprint sensor unlock the home screen and pay for purchases via Paypal. But while similar proposal made by Apple on its iPhone 5s works perfectly well and can store up to 5 fingerprints (3 for GS5), the Samsung player to
watch a little less convenient to use, a little more capricious. Blame it on the way to activate the sensor. It should indeed put his finger so well perpendicular to the telephone and slide up and down (from the bottom of the screen until the button) when the Apple stores several sensor positions for each enrolled fingerprint ; allowing a more natural and effective unlocking fail. Samsung is invited to review its copy on this point, because it is particularly annoying to have to try several times to access the contents of GS5. Provide a digital fingerprint reader is good, go to the end of the proposal with a zero defect operation is better.
Screen
Located between the One (M8) and Smartphones Z2, the GS5 has a (5.1 inch) screen size slightly greater than that of GS4 (5 inches). With a resolution of 1920 x 1080 px, 432 dpi screen features, guaranteeing a beautiful display finesse. Its technology, GS5 birth to an infinite contrast, but enjoys a maximum brightness of just over 307 cd / m². It is not fancy, but adequate. Readability remains correct in full light, telephone enjoying an infinite contrast and colorful interface.
Speaking of colors, precisely, let us focus on color management screen. Because if it enjoys a good quality, with wide viewing angles well, he sins in color not really true to life. One obtains a better dE 7.1 in Cinema mode; mode which offers a color management less flashy, with a softer image. The GS4 was better (dE 4). Recall that the delta E quantifies the difference between perfect colors and those colors on a given screen, and that the result should approach 0. Finally we note that the Super AMOLED screen takes at times to blue. It's not extreme, but it is noticeable enough in light colors and white, and, whatever the mode. Activating the gloves mode in the options, which then increases the sensitivity of the touch panel, responsiveness the slab (the time taken for the tablet to respond to a touch load) is measured at 100 ms. This is correct, equal to that proposed by the GS4 and Xperia Z2.But face it, the One (M8), displays a small 46 ms. Overall, the screen of HTC's latest is more efficient and color management fairer than here auscultated. For more details on the rendering screen GS5, you can consult the dual screens which opposes the Xperia Z2 .
Interface and Navigation
Touchwiz dresses again Kitkat Android platform in a modified version. Apple says Samsung has also yielded to the call of graphics " flat design ". And as with all overlays manufacturers: love it or do not like at all. But overall, we must recognize that this alteration made to the GUI is effective, despite a somewhat childish design, and always very colorful. But while the interface and navigation are lighter, Samsung still offers many widgets , applications and other home services, some of which overlap with those of Google. So, while some improvements are welcome (management board more comprehensive and practical notifications, display preferred settings, quick access to apps 5 favorites, keyboard yet effective reworked, etc..), we are faced with an important list of features - taking memory. There is a safe bet that most users will not use everything, while others will never make a complete tour of the mobile.
Bench applications proposed house include Kids Mode - less efficient than Windows Phone, it really caters to the little ones - the ability to display video in a small window while continuing to read a page Web, a multimedia player, S-Finder (a kind of Google Now ). MyMagazine appeared. Like Flipboard or Blinkfeed at HTC, MyMagazine used to group within the same page Actualit ed based on interests (choose from the proposed site) while integrating the activities of social networks . Finally, almost all as Facebook and Instagram are not available. Note also that the FM tuner seems to have disappeared from circulation. S Health, an application "health connect ed "rather comprehensive and easy to use to track the activity and try to improve physical activity, is again the part. It is possible to record the number of steps taken during the day and set goals based on their profile.
Among the sensors added to GS5, there is the heart rate monitor on the back of the device, at the LED flash. As its name suggests, is used to assess the heart rate. Data that can be saved in the user profile of the application S Health, pending the arrival one day perhaps other apps based on this small sensor. While many users will not use this sensor once the novelty effect (gadget) past, it may eventually prove useful for athletes who are not already equipped with an activity sensor or a heart rate chest. If simple start measuring heart from the application, we found sometimes with surprising results, and from 61 beats / min to 100 b / min within 30 s equal status. Therefore difficult to comment on the effectiveness of it. Finally, for the record, it has been a while applications that use the flash of the NPC to give the heartbeats, too, sometimes random. All this to say that if the function is immediately within the GS5, we can not really talk about innovation.
In terms of behavior, driven by the chipset Snapdragon 801, the GS5 enjoys a beautiful fluidity and an equally good response. Everything goes perfectly well, despite the TouchWiz interface yet resource-intensive and memory. The most demanding there find nothing wrong. Almost. Some games vid eo resource intensive ( Real Racing 3, Dead Trigger 2 ) are indeed a bit skate terminal ...
Once the unit is converted into video game mobile, it is tempting to push the beefy graphics card (Adreno 330) into a corner. The GS5 is generally run without flinching all games. If the flow is most notable time, the terminal shows its limits with resource intensive games. Indeed, we noticed some slowdowns even within a party or even just turning in the menus of the game terminal then begins to heat (bad heat dissipation) a little at the sensor, and this after a few minutes play only. Opposite to chipset equivalent HTC One (M8) and Z2 Xperia displayed fluidity foolproof. With a comfortable screen size and reactivity flawless duo Android / TouchWiz, internet browsing is a treat. Pages, even loaded contents are displayed promptly; the zoom / dezoom shows precise and swift; scrolling is done with real fluidity. Nothing to say about the video playback while simply effective. Proposed by Samsung offers full featured, as usual, a large format compatibility and very good management subtitles.
In the field of audio, Galaxy S5 brings neither good nor bad surprise, which ultimately is a hair disappointing for a device of its kind. At the headphone jack, the output level is rather high, but did not reach that of HTC One M8 or iPhone 5s. Other measured values (distortion, dynamic range, crosstalk) are in the high average smartphone tested in our lab, without bringing anything special.
Listening to the sound of the built in back of the speaker cabinet is quite clear and intelligible, but also a little slender. The sound power is correct, but again, it is far from rendering issued by the two speakers One (M8) and that, to a lesser extent, the Xperia Z2. Samsung has chosen to place the opening speaker at the back of the unit.Fortunately, it is not completely blocked when the unit is placed on a table. It's a little trickier when seated in the palm of your hand ...
Photo
While the sensor GS4 (13 Megapixel) still is, one year after its release, quite convincing that the GS5 climbs to 16 MP and further improves image rendering, with an increased level of detail captured. Noise management is effective and sharpness setting. And, on either side of the photo - and not just in the center. From the point of view of color management, the balance of white makes the job for a rather neutral view. however, the sensor loses efficiency when the brightness is missing, always with very little detail shown a tendency to capture blurry images and a fairly high level of noise. If it is a bit better than the GS4, the Xperia Z2, One (M8) and Lumia 1020 remain far more gifted in the dark. Damage.
Usage point of view, the GS5 displays exemplary behavior. Its autofocus is very fast, as is that of the HTC One (M8).The sensor of the GS5 is indeed capable of performing several developed with remarkable reactivity, even in low light. If the camera interface does not bring much change, it always turns out so rich and simple to use.
Reliable, responsive and accurate triggering, the GS5 offers most of the NPC at the opening function.
Full HD video capture (authorized HDR mode) is very effective. In capture 4K UHD, the experience is quite satisfactory - attention to weight files! - To render generally correct, although not free of ghosting. By activating this recording mode, HDR mode and stabilization disappear. For more details on photo / video sensor GS5, you can consult the duel that opposes the sensor of the Sony Xperia Z2 .
Autonomy
Samsung has provided the latest in a battery of 2800 mAh, against a battery of 2600 mAh on the Galaxy S4. In practice, the GS5 offers a remarkable autonomy. Crude test on our sample application, the phone and reached more than 23h of operation, which is equivalent to basic use two days of normal activity and a good day in more intensive mode. The excellent battery life of the GS5 is far superior to those of GS4 (13 hours on average) and LG G2, yet already very independent (19h). It is slightly more than that of the Sony Xperia Z1 Compact. In comparison always Xperia Z2 (accumulator 3200 mAh) comes close to 17 hours, when the One (M8) (2600 mAh) held a good bit more than 20 hours. Note the presence of a Ultra Power Save Mode which when activated (which takes time), has a limited access to a few basic applications (SMS, phone) in a very simple environment, since the screen becomes black and white. Close Sony Stamina Mode, energy saver Samsung is just as effective. In use, good endurance of this smartphone is of course more than respectable. A fortiori when it is a major consumer of data and multimedia.Attention parts of games (and heating, so) are quite dramatically - more than usual - drop the battery level.
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